WASHINGTON—The White House last Friday laid out objectives for trade talks with Japan, setting the clock for them to begin as early as Jan. 20, as the administration seeks to slash the United States' $69 billion trade deficit with the world's third-biggest economy. According to the document, the United States is aiming to secure duty-free market access for American industrial products and reduce or eliminate tariffs for U.S. agricultural goods.

WASHINGTON—The American Automotive Policy Council, a trade group representing Ford, GM and Fiat Chrysler, is urging the Trump administration to hold off further opening the American market to Japanese cars until Tokyo shows its committment to returning the favor.